PIJAC Sets Care Standards for Feeder Rodent IndustryOctober 21, 2013 Looking to avert government oversight, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council today released best management practices for breeders and distributors of feeder rodents. Nearly 10 months of work by PIJAC’s Herp Committee led to what the Washington, D.C., trade group called “the first nationwide set of standards” governing rats and mice raised as food for reptiles and birds of prey. Feeder rodents do not fall under the Animal Welfare Act, giving individual breeders the freedom to determine cage, transportation and handling guidelines. Most producers adhere to professional standards, the committee emphasized, but “there have been a few operations with unsanitary conditions and substandard care and housing.” PIJAC President and CEO Mike Canning helped recruit the 29 committee members, who were drawn from breeders, retailers, equipment suppliers and other expert groups. “As an industry, we need to set the bar high,” Canning said. “These best management practices are another step in an ongoing effort to develop voluntary, industry-driven practices as an alternative to obtrusive government regulation.” The best practices, available at www.pijac.org/FeederRodentBMP, cover everything from enclosures and bedding to nutrition and euthanasia. The most common feeder rodents …
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‘Endangered’ Label Restricts Sales of Blue-throated MacawOctober 18, 2013 Selling blue-throated macaws across state lines will be outlawed as of Nov. 4, three weeks after the bird was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The rule is part of an effort by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to save a parrot species whose numbers in its native Bolivia are estimated at less than 500. Opponents, however, argue that the sales restrictions will have no impact in Bolivia given that the South American country already bans the bird’s capture and export. Not all movements of the blue-throated macaw will be illegal in the United States. Private and commercial breeding efforts and the bird’s sale to a resident of the same state may continue unabated, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reported. In addition, a permit may be issued for a bird’s sale or commercial use if the activity is for scientific research or to enhance “the propagation or survival of the species,” the Fish & Wildlife Service stated. The blue-throated macaw is both rare and expensive. Breeders and pet stores typically price individuals at $2,000 or more. David Lombard, owner of Bird Farm in Poland, Ohio, lists a male for $2,295. …
South Dakota Livestock Deaths Revised DownwardOctober 18, 2013 Upward of 10,000 head of livestock died in a blizzard that ravaged South Dakota the weekend of Oct. 4, the state’s Animal Industry Board reported today. The count was far below earlier estimates of 60,000 to 100,000 dead animals but still a significant hit to South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers. The state has a cattle population of 3.85 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A spokeswoman for State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven, DVM, placed the latest casualty count at 7,396 cattle, 250 sheep and 96 horses, based on reports from 94 producers. The deadly storm whipped up 70 mph winds and dropped 3 to 4 feet of snow. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack dispatched Under Secretary Michael Scuse to South Dakota to collect more information. “We appreciate the devastation that these storms have basically caused in livestock operations [and] we would love to be able to provide help and assistance,” Vilsack said in remarks released Thursday. “At this point all we can do is collect information, make sure that we have accurate information, so when and if the Congress reinstates the Livestock Disaster Assistance Programs, makes them retroactive to when they lapsed …
3 Pets Turn Misfortune Into TriumphOctober 16, 2013 A dog with a taste for onions, a cat who survived a washing machine and a dog who couldn’t outrun a bicycle were the top finishers in Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.’s fifth annual Hambone Award contest. Pet lovers cast more than 6,000 votes to determine the most unusual insurance claims from a pool of 11 nominees. Contest sponsor Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif., insures 500,000 pets and processes more than 1.1 million claims a year. Announced today, the Hambone Award for the most usual claim went to Winnie, a mixed-breed dog from Barnstable, Mass., who broke open a forgotten bag of frozen onion rings and consumed all 2 pounds. Given that onions are toxic to dogs, urgent veterinary care was necessary. Second place: Natasha “In extreme cases of onion poisoning, the pet may need a blood transfusion,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary officer at Veterinary Pet Insurance. Winnie’s owners, the Bowser family, learned of the threat after telling Facebook friends about her odd diet. “I did some quick investigating and found out that
Pit Bull Takes Top Honors At Hero Dog AwardsOctober 7, 2013 The American Humane Association’s third Hero Dog Awards was held in Los Angeles in front of celebrities such as Betty White, Ryan O’Neal, Naomi Judd and Victoria Stillwell. The red-carpet gala was taped for broadcast Oct. 30 on the Hallmark Channel. More than 140 dogs were nominated for awards. The winners were chosen through more than 1 million public votes and a panel of animal advocates and celebrity judges. Elle was honored for her work with schools, a retirement home and families. The Roanoke Rapids, N.C., therapy dog is used to teach dog bite avoidance and responsible pet ownership, participates in a student reading program, and spreads awareness about breeds such as pit bulls. "As an organization that for years has fought breed-specific legislation, we are also pleased to honor a breed that has been often been unjustly maligned,” said Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Association. "We hope that Elle’s story will help to underscore the many tremendously positive qualities of this breed.” Seven other category winners were recognized for what Ganzert called their heroic work. "These courageous canines have gone above and beyond the call of duty, …
AVMA Tells Nation’s Leaders: Get Back To WorkOctober 4, 2013 The Schaumburg, Ill.-based organization urged Congress to reach a budget agreement. "Not only is Congress affecting the lives of more than 800,000 federal employees by its lack of action, it is compromising the health and well-being of millions of animals,” said Ron DeHaven, DVM, the AVMA’s CEO. "Each day that the U.S. government is shut down, we are faced with a dwindling supply of available vaccines to keep livestock healthy, a lack of inspections that protect animals from abuse, and a dearth of food safety inspections.” Among the veterinary offices and programs affected by the shutdown are: • The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Veterinary Biologics. The agency, which is closed, verifies the safety of animal vaccines before releasing them into the marketplace. "Most food-producing companies only hold a one- or two-week inventory of major vaccines, meaning that they could soon run out of their supply if the [Center for Veterinary Biologics] is unable to release new batches after a two-week period,” AVMA reported. "Food-animal producers may soon be forced not to vaccinate their flocks or herds, which will endanger herd health, food safety and public health.” The Animal and Plant …
Sleepypod Harness Wins Top Ranking In Safety TestOctober 4, 2013 A groundbreaking study by the Center for Pet Safety identified Sleepypod’s Clickit Utility Harness as the top restraint for dogs traveling in cars. The findings, released Thursday, for the first time ranked pet harnesses that make test claims either on their packaging or website. The lack of industry-wide performance standards and test protocols has given manufacturers the freedom to define what constitutes crashworthiness. "While many pet car-restraint manufacturers claim to test their products ... these claims cannot be substantiated,” reported the Center for Pet Safety in Reston, Va. The Sleepypod Clickit Utility Harness was the only device from among seven tested to earn a "Top Performer” ranking for crash protection. "It was the only harness tested to consistently keep a dog from launching off of the seat and the only restrain deemed to offer substantial protection to all passengers, including the dog, in the event of an accident,” said a statement released jointly by the nonprofit research organization and car manufacturer Subaru, which sponsored the test. Sleepypod welcomed the news, which was accompanied by word that Subaru would offer the safety harness as an option in its vehicles. "This study affirms Sleepypod’s …
Cornell To Expand Veterinary Facilities, EnrollmentOctober 4, 2013 Construction at the Ithaca, N.Y., campus is expected to begin next summer and finish by fall 2017, the university reported today. The upgrades are designed to accommodate classes of 120 pre-clinical students compared to the current headcount of 102. "The facility enhancements made as part of this project will enable the college to match the admission size of our veterinary student intake with the capacity of our hospital,” said Michael Kotlikoff, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. "The program will also benefit regional veterinary technician programs, who need greater hands-on opportunities.” Fourth-year students at Cornell now number 120, including 18 from other schools who are completing their clinical training. The overall plan calls for demolishing 68,000 square feet of existing space, replacing it with 65,000 square feet of space and renovating 33,000 square feet. Among the changes: • Construction of a public auditorium, a dining hall closer to the hospital, larger classrooms and two tiered lecture halls. • Renovation of anatomy, tutorial and student surgery areas. • Added meeting and event space, an e-learning center and a central student locker area. James Law Auditorium will be replaced with a three-story …
Veterinary And Human Craniofacial Patients Meet Face To FaceOctober 3, 2013 On July 17, the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine—widely known as Penn Vet—hosted what may indeed be the first formal gathering of multiple human and veterinary craniofacial patients together in one room. Four dogs with craniofacial abnormalities (patients from the school’s Ryan Hospital) and 20 patients from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and their families met at Penn Vet to share experiences and inspire each other during the "Best Friends Bash.” The hope is that this program will blossom into a specialized form of pet therapy in which human patients can better relate to pets with similar conditions, having undergone similar experiences and procedures throughout their lives. Pets and people are often affected by the same illnesses. Treatment for those illnesses is often remarkably similar. Craniofacial deformities can be some of the most challenging diseases for a patient to cope with, due to stigmas associated with facial differences. Many of these deformities are congenital, and in humans, multiple surgeries are often necessary to improve function and cosmetics. It is not uncommon for some patients to require more than 30 surgeries throughout life if born with severe congenital craniofacial deformities. Therefore, …
New Study To Silence Sasquatch Skeptics, Says Bigfoot BelieverOctober 2, 2013 It’s no joke. Melba S. Ketchum, DVM, the director of DNA Diagnostics Inc. in Timpson, Texas, says she has proof that the mysterious Sasquatch exists in North America. A study led by Dr. Ketchum and reportedly under peer review found that Bigfoot is a distinct 15,000-year-old species that is a cross between modern Homo sapiens and unknown primates. The five-year study used DNA sequencing and involved experts in genetics, forensics, imaging and pathology whom Ketchum did not identify. "Sasquatch nuclear DNA is incredibly novel and not at all what we had expected,” she said in a news release distributed Monday. "While it has human nuclear DNA within its genome, there are also distinctly nonhuman, nonarchaic hominin and nonape sequences. "Further study is needed and is ongoing to better characterize and understand Sasquatch nuclear DNA.” The study sequenced 20 whole mitochondrial genomes to obtain three complete nuclear genomes from alleged Sasquatch samples, Ketchum said. "The genome sequencing shows that Sasquatch [mitochondreal DNA] is identical to modern Homo sapiens, but Sasquatch [nuclear DNA] is a novel, unknown hominin related to Homo sapiens and other primate species,” she added. "Our data indicate that the North American …
